Water softening system



g- 1952 E. ALBERTSON 2,607,728 I WATER SOFTENING SYSTEM Filed March '10, 1947 2 Sl-IEETS-SI-[EET 1 INVENTOR.

LAWRENCI E, ALBERTSON ATTORNEY Aug. 19, '1952 E. ALBERTSON 2,

. WATER SOFTENING SYSTEM.

Filed March 10, 1947 1 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 3% 3/ INVENTOR.

A T TOR/V5 Y Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Lawrence E. Albertson, Minn'eapolis,.Minn., as-

signor to- The McKays Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application March 10, 1947, Serial No. 733,483

1 This invention relates to: a water softening system and apparatus, and has more particular relation to a so-called rental water" softener. An object of the invention is'to provide a water softening system and apparatus which'will be an improvement generally over the disclosure of U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,329,350, to Theodore Kaysen, Jr., for Water Softening System and 'Apparatus, granted September 14, 1943.

A further object is to provide a wat'er soften-v 'ing system and apparatus wherein'will beincorporated desirable and improved features and parts being permissible as long as within the c spirit of the invention and thescope of the-claims which follow. e In the-accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, h r

Fig. ,1 isan elevational view of a including thefeatures and characteristics of the invention, aswhen in water softening operation;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partially in section and partially broken away, of the water softener of Fig. 1, as when a mineral bed of Zeoliteof said water-softener i's connected upif'or regeneration; Y

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view-of a fittin with valve of said Water softener, disclosing isaid valve'in closedposition; I

Fig; 4 is a view corresponding generally with the disclosure of Fig. 3, but showing the valve situated to permit restrictedfiow;

Fig.r5.is a. view corresponding generally with the disclosures of Figs. 3 and s, but showing the valve inropenposition; Y T

Fig. .6.is a sectional view detailing-entities or elements of'the water softening system and-apparatusat positions in which they are situated when brine solutionis being washedor' removed from themineral bed of zeolite;

'Fig. '7 is a sectional view, taken'fo n 'linel 'l-g-l Fig. 8 is a sectional view, taken'on line 85-8 inFig.6;and

water softener 4, Claims. (o1; 210-24) Fig. 9 is an elevational viewof'a time operated controlling" means for a latching device of the water" softener;

'With respect to the drawings andthe numerals'of reference thereon, an inlet-connection l5 leads from a source (not shown) of water supply by pipe connections 16, IT and-"l1" to a water softening medium container l8, and by way of a pipe connection Hi to locations of use, such as faucets (not shown), for water. An outlet connection 20'from said water softening medium container leads by way of a pipe connection 26 to the pipe connection l9. A manually actua'ble valve 2| in the pipe connection 19,

'between'the pipe connection .16 and the pipe connection 26', is normally closed, and water to be softened enters at the upper portion of the container l8 and'passes downwardly through a softening'medium 22, usually zeolite, in the container, which absorbs such constituents as .calcium andmagnesium-from and releases sodium to the water. When the softeningmediumor zeolite reaches its saturated state, it is regenerated, by'flushing with a salt brine solution.

A gravel supporting'bed 23 for the softening medium or zeolite 22 is-situated in the base of the container [8, and a usual distributor 24 in said gravel supporting bed is in communication with the outlet connection 2-0. The distributor 24includes ports :25. The supporting bed 23 may be gravel, screens, cork, charcoaL'or other suitable filtering-means.

A-salttank '21, useful to the accomplishment of regeneration of the softening medium or'zeolite 22, is not a part of the water softenerwhen in water softening operation, as will be clear from Fig. 1, but is associated or assembled with the water-softening medium container 18, as disclosed-in Fig. 2, when the mineral bedof zeolite of said water softener is to be regenerated.

' A valve casing '28 is secured, as at, to the outlet connection 20, and said-valve casing is secured, as at 30, to the pipe connection 26. e

A valve seat 3| of the valve casing 28 is disposed in the lower'portion of a chamber 32 of said valve casing 28 insurrounding relation toa port 33 open to the pipe connection 26, and the outlet'co'nnection 20 opens to said chamber 32 at the side'of said valve seat 3| oppositesaid port 33.

"softener.

A valve seat 31, situated between the chamber 32 and the first hollow tubular element 34, is disposed in'the upper portion of said chamber '32 in'surrounding' relation to a port 38 between 3 the chamber 32 and the interior of said first hollow tubular element 34. The valve seat 31 is in vertical alinement'with and parallel relation to the valve seat 3| and is disposed at the side of the outlet connection 26 which is opposite said valve seat 3|.

A double valve 39 situated within the chamber 32 is adapted to be reciprocated between the valve seats 3| and 31. A lower closure surface 49 of the double valve 39 is adapted to be seated against the valve seat 3| to shut off communication between the outlet connection 29 and the pipe connection 26, and an upper closure surface 4| of said double valve is adapted to be seated against the valve seat 31 to shut oif communication between said outlet connection 29 and the first hollow tubular element 34. The construction and arrangement are such that when the lower closure surface 49 is against the valve seat 3|, the upper closure surface 4| isin spaced relation to the valve seat 31, and when said-upper closure surface 4| is against said valve seat 31, said lower closure surface 40 is in spaced relation to said valve seat A valve stem 42, rigid with the double valve 39, extends through the interior of the first hollow tubular element 34, as well asthrough the port 38 between the chamber 32 and said first hollow tubular element, and is slidably mounted, as at 43, in an intermediate portion of the valve casing 28, A packing gland44 about the valve stem 42 isfor an obvious purpose. v

A second hollow tubular element 45 of the valve casing 28, above thefirst hollow tubular element 34, is in alined relation with the ports 33 and 38, and the upper or free endportion of the valve stem 42 projects into the lower portion of said second hollow tubular element 45. A compression coil s'pring46 upon said valve stem 42, between a collar 41 rigid with the valve stem and the base 48 of the interior of said secondhollow tubular element 45, exerts resilient tension adapted to normally retain the upper closure surface 4| of the double valve 39 against the valve seat 31, thus to cause the lower closure surface 46 of said double valve to be situated in spaced relation'to the valve seat 3|. V

The Water softener incorporates a construction and arrangement, including a "time controlled latching device, for retaining'the lower closure surface 40 of the double valve 39 against the'valve seat 3 against the'a'ction of the compression coil spring 46, when this is intentional, thus to cause the upper closure surface 4| of said double valve to'be situated in spaced relation to the valve seat'31.

'A fitting 49, threadably connected, as at 59, to the end portion of the second hollow tubular element 45 spaced from the first hollow tubular element 34, includes a cylindrical guide way in alined relation with the valve stem 42 which slidably and rotatably receives an actuator stem 52 for said valve stem 42. The outer end portion of the actuator stem 52 projects to position beyond the fitting 49 and a button on said outer end portion-is designated 53. Theinner end portion of saidactuator stem 52 is situated within the second hollow tubular element 45 and a collar rigid with said inner end portion is denoted 54. A compression actuator spring 55, within said second hollow tubular element 45 between the collars 41 and 54, is of greater strength than the compression coil spring 46. s

The fitting 49 also includes a hollowed out portion in contiguous relation to the cylindrical tuating stem 52.

guide way 5| providing spaced apart bearings 56, 56 for trunnions 51, 51 of a rotatable latch element 58. Said rotatable latch element 59 is cut away at location between the trunnions 51, 51 to provide a latch edge 59 adapted to be releasably situated in an external thread 60 upon the actuatorstem 52. The construction and arrangement will be such that the latch edge 59 has slant to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable latch element 58 to degree substantially equal to the pitch of the external thread 60 upon said actuator stem 52, so that there will be snug engagement of said latch edge in said external thread no matter to what position the actuator stem 52 may be rotated in the fitting 49. Stated otherwise, the actuator stem 52 includes a continuous external thread 60 adapted to snugly receive the latch edge 59 regardless of the position of rotatable adjustment of said actuator stem. Said latch edge 59 has length somewhat greater than a dimension representing the diameter of the actuator stem 52, and the construction and arrangement are such that both of the trunnions 51, 51 are in'spaced relation to said actuator stem, at opposite sides thereof.

An actuating lever for the rotatable latch ele- 'ment 58 is represented by numeral 6|.'.AS disclosed, the actuating lever 6| is rigid with one of the trunnions 51 and extends away from the fitting 49 at right angular relation to the valve casing 28.

V A time operated controlling means for the latching device is constituted as a clock mechanism 62, disclosed more clearly in Fig. 9. A pivoted arm 63 is urged toward the'actuating lever 6| by a tension coil spring 64 and is retained stationary against the action of said tension coil spring by a cam 65 movable with the clock mechanism. The construction and arrangement will be such that the pivoted arm 63 will drop off of the cam 65 at the expiration of a set time and cause the actuating lever 6| to be tripped, thus to cause the latch element 58 to be rotated so that the latch edge 59 will be removed from the external thread 69 of the actuator stem 52.

' In practical operation, the actuator stem 52 is first pushed down, both to cause the compression actuator spring 55 to be compressed between the collars 41 and 54 and the lower closure surface 46 of the double valve 39 to be engaged against the valve seat 3 and then thelatch element 58 is rotated to cause the latch edge 59 to be engaged in the external thread 60 of the ac- The compression coil spring 46 of course will have tendency toward moving the double valve 39 away from the valve seat 3|, but the compression actuator spring 55, being of greater strength than said compression coil spring 46, will cause said double valve to be firmly engaged against said valve seat 3| under all conditions of use of the water softener. Upon release of the actuator stem 52 from the latch edge 59, the compression coil spring 46 will return the double valve 39 to its normal position of engagement against the valve seat 31. Said latch edge 59 will become removed from the external thread 60 upon said actuator stem 52 in response to but I slight rotative movement of the latch element 58.

The salt tank 21: is adapted to receive solid salt-66. and a'removable cover for said salt tank is denoted 61. The cover 61 when fastened down is water-tight. 'A screen 687fixedinthe lower ,The pipe connection l 1 includes .a qfitting -'I I ,with valve, denoted generaly 'at 12,- for controlling flowpfwater from the; inlet connection I 5 and the pipe connection I6, byway of said pipe connection Hand-the pipe connection 11', .to the container I8,..a manually actuable valve l.3-for controlling flow of water. fromsaidinlet con- .nection l5 and said pipe connection [6,. byway of .said pipeconnection H, to a-water outlet "of I th pipe connection I l, and. a manually actuable valve. 15 for controlling'ijlow ofkbrine solution fromthe salt tankil, by way ofv the connecting pipe 19, a brine solution inlet 'ls 'ofsaid pipe connection. and the pipe connection. L1, to said container .IS. A connecting. pipe I! for water is;

adapted to be detachably inserted between the Water-outlet 14 and .a portion .of the salt tank 2'! above the level .of the salt 66, and the brine solution connecting pipe '10 is I adapted to -be detachably connected with .theinlet lli of thepipe connection ll. The fitting H with valve. .12 is situated at location between the pipe connection l8 and the pipe connection l1, the manually actuable valve 13 is at the side of .saidpipe .connection An auxiliary drain pipe is represented 18. The fitting H is constituted as a tubular member having a hollow inlet end portion 1.9 and a i hollow outlet end portion .80 separated. by a substantially Z-shaped partition. extending across the tubular member and including a flat, intermediate portion 8| extending axially ofsaidtubu lar member. portion ill, for affording communication between the hollow inlet end portion 19 and thehollow outlet end portion 80, is surrounded by a valvev seat83 at the inlet side of said jfiat, intermediate portion BI, and a valve proper 84 insaid hollow inlet end portion 19 is adapted selectively, to be engaged against and removed from the valveseat 83. Spaced apart guides 85 for the valve proper 84,perpendicular to and integral with the lower or inner surface of said valve'proper, are slidably situated in the port 82 'so "as to project into the hollow outlet end portion 80. A restricted or reduced flow opening through saidvalve proper '84 is designated 86.

An actuatorstem 81' for the valve proper,

I6 opposite said fitting H, and the manually actuable valve 15 isat theside ofsaid pipe connection ll' oppositethe fitting.- II.

A port 82, in thefiat, intermediate :and the port :33.

- foot-89. as in'Fig: 5 ofthedrawings.

.tion .20-;and- .the dram-pipe 36aand" saidroutlet connectionefll is in free-communication :withthe pipe-iconnectionliby; way of the chamberzz32 Said double valve '39 iis..:.r etained positioned-.:against.- said: .valve .seat :31 fby the compressioncoi'l .spring *46. When the water softener *is in water softening operation, the valves .21, 13 -and-l5-zare closed; and thevalve proper is in open: position, up, againstithe The flow of waterfrom-the inlet connection l5, through-wthe pipe-connections -6, L1 and l'i', is'downwardly through the :zeolite bed: .and through the :outlet connection 20 to the 'pipeconnection 2B by way of thechamber-32 and the port 33 when the :wa-

ter. .softener is. in softening operation.

Whenthe softening medium or zeolite=22-is to vbecregenerated, the valve 12 isfirst closed, by

manipulation of the actuator stemyBl to .cause the foot 189 to-be situated down against thezvalve proper :84 as disclosed in Fig; 3-of therdrawings, therauxiliary drain pipe [8 is then removedlfrom the-drain pipe 36 and attached at l6toxtheivalve 15;.a-nd, finally, the valves 2| and I5 areopened.

Thus, .backwashing is caused to occurythe. backwashing. flow being-from theinlet connection 5 through the pipe-connection 2B, the port :33 andthe chamber 32- to the connection 20,, and thence upwardly throughthe softening medium or -zeolite 22, the pipe connections I1 and Hand the-auxiliary drain pipe 18 to drain. 7 l

Upon .completion. of backwashing, the" valves 2| and 75,are closed,.the drain pipe 1-8 .is replaced on-the drain pipe 35,.andthe .salt tar-11:11; with solid. salt therein, is connected up, by means of the pipeconnections'll and .70, to the valves 13 and 15,..respectively. The valves .-l3-;and' 15 are thenopened, and thedoublevalve 39 islatched inthe position as-disclosedin Fig. 6 of the-draw- .ings so: that 131181131138 connection 26 is shut :off

from. thepipeiconnection 20 and the drain pipe 36- is open to said pipe connection .20; Thus, water fromithe inlet-connection I5 :is. .caused to .fiowinto thesalt tankl'i by way of the pipe connections I 6 and I! and the watergpipe ll, andjbrine solution is caused to be forced outof said salt tank into the container -I 8--by wayof thecp'ipeconnections 10, I1 and I1. The.brine threadably situated in the fitting "H in alined and perpendicular relation to thevalveproper 84, is rigid with a hand piece'88'at 'theiouter side of said fitting H adapted-selectively to be turneddown to cause afoot 89' supported by said actuator stem within the hollow inlet end portion 'l9 to be engagedagainst-the "valve proper to cause it to berested' 'upon the valve seat or turned'up to withdraw said foot"89from said valve proper thus to permitthis to become removed from said valve seat 83. A compression coil spring 96, within the hollow outlet end 'porsolution will beforced intosaid container.- [8.1mder head pressure of water in the inlet connection..l 5,..and water and brine solution ,will flow downwardly through the container andout of 1 the drain pipes 36 and i8,- by way, of the outlet connection 20,- the'chamber 32, theport 38. andthe first .hollow tubular element 34,; with the forcing ofwater.andnbrine soluticn from: the salt tankl'l into said container l8.. The brine solution thus madetoflow into the zeolite con.-

tainer willcausethezeolite to be flushed andregeneratedandthe valves 13and l5 willbe closed after flushing andregenerationiof the zeoliteis completed. The pipes 11 and 10 will be removed from said'valves 13'and 15, respectively, while all'of the valves 12, 1.3, Hand .3 l--40 are closed,

Afterlregeneration, it isnecessary to wash the brine solution, and traces thereof, from the minera'lbed. To accomplish this,.and assuming'the salt tank 2'l"and. its connecting pipes H and 10 to have been disassociated or disassembledfrom the container; IS, the. timing mechanism is setnn the latching device and the actuator-stem-p'l is moved'to position, asin Fig. 4, 'ada ptedto permit the valve proper 8.4 to becomeremoved from-the valve seat 83" (while said latching. device holds the valves 3l-'4.0' closed .andthe valve .3.'l-.-4.[

32 and the port 38. It is necessary that washing-of the zeolite be continued for some appreciable time to insure that all traces of salt brine be removed, and, desirably, the flow of water through'the zeolite bed to the accomplishment of the washing operation should be relatively slow thus to be thoroughly distributed throughout the zeolite bed. During washing, the valve proper 84 is in closed position, as in said Fig. 4, and flow of water is limited to that which passes therestricted or reduced flow opening 86 so that proper Washing of the zeolite bed will be accomplished.

The construction and arrangement including the time controlled latching device before devalve 3|40 and closing said Valve 37--4I upon the expiration of said predetermined sufi'icient interval of time. Opening the valve 3l40 and closing the valve 31-4! after washing of the zeolite is accomplished, causes the inlet connection IS, the pipe connections [6, I1 and I1, the zeolite container l8 and the outlet connection 20 'to'be open to the pipe connection 26, so that the water softener is set or ready to commence softening operation, and shuts off the drain pipe 36. The timing mechanism 62 of course will be set to cause the valve 3l4(l to remain closed and the valve 314| to remain open for precisely the interval during which it is intended that washing of the zeolite bed be continued.

It will be apparent that during washing of the bed of zeolite, flow of water from the inlet connection 15 by way of the fitting II to and through the container l8 and out of the drain pipes 36 and 18 will be in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 3, 4 and of the drawings. That is, flow through the fitting II will be from the hollow inlet end portion 19 to the hollow outlet end portion 80 of said fitting, and water under head pressure of water in the inlet connection [5 will cause the valve proper 84 to remain closed, engaged against the valve seat 83. as saidvalve proper is disclosed in Fig. 4, as long as thevalve 31-4! remains open. When, however, the compression coil spring 46 causes the double valve 39 to be actuated to cause the outlet connection 20 to be shut on from drain and open to the pipe connection 26 leading to the locations of use, and thereafter pressure in the system becomes equal to head pressure in the inlet connection [5, the compression coil spring 90 will cause the valve proper 84 to be moved to wide open position, as said valve proper is disclosed in Fig. 5, thus to permit free flow through the water softener until regeneration again is accomplished. Attention is called to the fact that should a faucet on the line be open after regeneration is completed and before pressure in the system has equalized to permit the valv proper 84 tobe opened, flow from the faucet will be at the rate permitted by the reduced flow opening 86.

The construction and arrangement of the fitting .H and the valve 72 as illustrated and described constitute a valuable improvement over the construction and arrangement as in the Kaysen' Patent No. 2,329,350 where the restriction member 59 is fatthe outlet side of the two-way valve. In the disclosure of the application, there is'norest'riction at the outlet side of the two-way valve, and, hence, no built-up pressure operative against actuation of the double valve 39. In practical use of apparatus made according to the above identified Kaysen patent, it was necessary to slot the lower seat of the two-way valve to allow pressure to equalize on either side of said lower seat in the event a faucet of the system might be opened during washing or rinsing of the zeolite bed, and the slot established the possibility of passage of brine to locations of use. Placing 'the necessary restriction at the inlet side of i the two-way valve, as in the application, effectually eliminates all of the difficulties which are encountered when the necessary restriction is situated at the outlet side of the two-way valve.

The purpose for the inclusion of the construction and arrangement for accomplishing washing of the zeolite bed .for a predetermined suflicient 'intervalof time and for causing the water soft'ener' to become automatically set or ready to be capable of commencing softening operation after washing is completed is to relieve the workman of the necessity of waiting around until washing of the zeolite bed has been accomplished. A workman need spend only a very few minutes to the accomplishment of the flushing operation of the softening medium or zeolite 22. The tank 21 for salt is readily and easily and quickly attachable to and detachable from the water softening medium or zeolite container I8, and, evidently,'the construction and arrangement provide for really quick and thorough flushing of the zeolite with saltbrine after the container l8 and the salt tank 2T are assembled together. The relatively short period of time required to assemble and disassemble the container and salt tank, to accomplish regeneration, and to set the timing mechanism, is all the time a workman need spend in order that regeneration and washing of the zeolite can be complete. The workman can be otherwise occupied during the much longer interval of time required for washing.

The salt tank and its connections will be removed from the softening medium container, as in Fig. 1, while the water softener is in softening operation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a water softener system, the combination with a container having a bed of softening medium, an inlet connection to said container and bed adapted to lead from a source of water supply, an outlet connection from said container and bed disposed in spaced relation to said inlet connection adapted to lead to locations of use for water, and a fitting in one of said connections including a port for affording communication between hollowinlet and outlet portions of said fitting, of a valve casing communicated with by said inlet connection by way of said hollow inlet and outlet portions of said fitting, said container and. said outlet connection, a first pipe connection adapted to lead from said valve casing to said locations of use for water, a second pipe connection adapted -to lead from said valve casing to drain, means adapted to be actuated selectively to shut off communication between said container with softening medium and said first pipe connection and establish communication by way of said outlet connection and valve casing between said container with softening medium and said second pipe connection and to establish communication by way of said outlet connection and valve casing between said container with softening medium and said first pipe connection and shut off communication between said container with softening medium and said second pipe connection, mechanism for controlling said mentioned means, a valve in said fitting for controlling said port and including a reduced fiow opening, resilient means for retaining said valve in the open condition of said port against the possibility of said valve becoming closed in response to fiow of water through said fitting, and manually operable means selectively actuable to a position adapted to cause said valve to be situated in the closed position of said port or to a position releasing said valve to render it capable of being situated in the open condition of said port, differential in pressure at the inlet and outlet sides of said fitting being adapted to retain said valve in the closed condition of the port against force of said resilient means when said manually operable means is actuated to said position releasing said valve to render it capable of being situated in the open condition of said port while said second pipe connection is open and there is differential in pressure between the source and outlet sides of said fitting, and said resilient means being adapted to urge said valve to the open condition of the port in response to closing of said second pipe connection and equalization in pressure at the source and outlet sides of said port.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1, a vessel for salt, a first connector between said inlet connection and said vessel, first manually actuable means for selectively controlling fiow of water from said inlet connection to said container or to said vessel by way of said first connector, a second connector between said vessel and said container, and second manually actuable means for controlling fiow of brine solution from said vessel to said container by way of said second connector.

3. In a water softening system, the combination with a container having a bed of softening medium, an inlet connection to said container and bed adapted to lead from a source of water supply, an outlet connection from said container and bed disposed in spaced relation to said inlet connection adapted to lead to locations of use for water. and a fitting in one of said connections including a port for afiording communication between hollow inlet and outlet portions of said fitting, of a valve casing communicated with by said inlet connection by way of said hollow inlet and outlet portions of said fitting, said container and said outlet connection, a first pipe connection adapted to lead from said valve casing to said 10- cations of use for water, a second pipe connection adapted to lead from said valve casing to drain, means adapted to be actuated selectively to shut off communication between said container with softening medium and said first pipe connection and establish communication by way of said outlet connection and valve casing between said container with softening medium and said second pipe connection and to establish communication by Way of said outlet connection and valve casing between said container with softening medium and said first pipe connection and shut ofl communication between said container with softening medium and said second pipe connection, mechanism for controlling said mentioned means, a valve in said fitting for controlling said port and including a reduced fiow opening, resilient means for retaining said valve in the open condition of said port against the possibility of said valve becoming closed in response to flow of water through said fitting, and manually operable means selectively actuable to a position adapted to cause said reduced flow opening to be closed and said valve to be situated in the closed condition of said port or to a position causing said reduced fiow opening to be open and releasing said valve to render it capable of being situated in the open condition of said port, differential in pressure at the inlet and outlet sides of said fitting being adapted to retain said valve in the closed condition of the port against force of said resilient means when said manually operable means is actuated to said position causing said reduced flow opening to be open and releasing said valve to render it capable of being situated in the open condition of said port while said second pipe connection is open and there is differential in pressure between the source and outlet sides of said fitting, and said resilient means being adapted to urge said valve to the open condition of the port in response to closing of said second pipe connection and equalization of pressure at the source and outlet sides of said port.

4. The combination as specified in claim 3, a vessel for salt, a first connector between said inlet connection and said vessel, first manually actuable means for selectively controlling flow of water from said inlet connection to said container or to said vessel by way of said first connector, 2. second connector independent of said valve casing between said vessel and container, and second manually actuable means for controlling flow of brine solution from said vessel to said container by way of said second connector.

LAWRENCE E. ALBERTSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 501,437 Pierce July 11, 1893 547,506 Sleigh Oct. 8, 1895 586,561 Mosher July 20, 1897 610,470 Buekler Sept. 6, 1898 616,730 Reynolds Dec. 27, 1898 740,225 Brown Sept. 29, 1903 869,093 Kiser Oct. 22, 1907 1,526,269 Downton Feb. 10, 1925 1,654,537 Dotterweich Jan. 3, 1928 1,744,493 Nix Jan. 21, 1930 1,851,927 McCord Mar. 29, 1932 1,938,628 Huppertz Dec. 12, 1933 2,003,739 Clark June 4, 1935 2,044,247 Kenney June 16, 1936 2,098,583 Kleinsmith Nov. 9, 1937 2,292,801 Slidell Aug. 11, 1942 2,329,350 Kaysen, Jr. Sept. 14, 1943 2,347,201 Lindsay Apr. 25, 1944 2,347,204 Lindsay Apr. 25, 1944 2,376,124 Coulbourn May 15, 1945 2,396,809 Addison Mar. 19, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 426,893 Germany Mar. 19, 1926 21,965 Netherlands Oct. 15, 1930 

1. IN A WATER SOFTENER SYSTEM, THE COMBINATION WITH A CONTAINER HAVING A BED OF SOFTENING MEDIUM, AN INLET CONNECTION TO SAID CONTAINER AND BED ADAPTED TO LEAD FROM A SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY, AN OUTLET CONNECTION FROM SAID CONTAINER AND BED DISPOSED IN SPACE RELATION TO SAID INLET CONNECTION ADAPTED TO LEAD TO LOCATIONS OF USE FOR WATER, AND A FITTING IN ONE OF SAID CONNECTIONS INCLUDING A PORT FOR AFFORDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HOLLOW INLET AND OUTLET PORTIONS OF SAID FITTING, OF A VALVE CASING COMMUNICATED WITH BY SAID INLET CONNECTION BY WAY OF SAID HOLLOW INLET AND OUTLET PORTIONS OF SAID FITTING, SAID CONTAINER AND SAID OUTLET CONNECTION, A FIRST PIPE CONNECTION ADAPTED TO LEAD FROM SAID VALVE CASING TO SAID LOCATIONS OF USE FOR WATER, A SECOND PIPE CONNECTION ADAPTED TO LEAD FROM SAID VALVE CASING TO DRAIN, MEANS ADAPTED TO BE ACTUATED SELECTIVELY TO SHUT OFF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER WITH SOFTENING MEDIUM AND SAID FIRST PIPE CONNECTION AND ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION BY WAY OF SA2D OUTLET CONNECTION AND VALVE CASING BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER WITH SOFTENING MEDIUM AND SAID SECOND PIPE CONNECTION AND TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION BY WAY OF SAID OUTLET CONNECTION AND VALVE CASING BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER WITH SOFTENING MEDIUM AND SAID FIRST PIPE CONNECTION AND SHUT OFF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER WITH SOFTENING MEDIUM AND SAID SECOND PIPE CONNECTION, MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING SAID MENTIONED MEANS, A VALVE IN SAID FITTING FOR CONTROLLING SAID PORT AND INCLUDING A REDUCED FLOW OPENING, RESILIENT MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID VALVE IN THE OPEN CONDITION OF SAID PORT AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF SAID VALVE BECOMING CLOSED IN RESPONSE TO FLOW OF WATER THROUGH SAID FITTING, AND MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS SELECTIVELY ACTUABLE TO A POSITION ADAPTED TO CAUSE SAID VALVE TO BE SITUATED IN THE CLOSED POSITION OF SAID PORT OR TO A POSITION RELEASING SAID VALVE TO RENDER IT CAPABLE OF BEING SITUATED IN THE OPEN CONDITION OF SAID PORT, DIFFERENTIAL IN PRESSURE AT THE INLET AND OUTLET SIDES OF SAID FITTING BEING ADAPTED TO RETAIN SAID VALVE IN THE CLOSED CONDITION OF THE PORT AGAINST FORCE OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS WHEN SAID MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS IS ACTUATED TO SAID POSITION RELEASING SAID VALVE TO RENDER IT CAPABLE OF BEING SITUATED IN THE OPEN CONDITION OF SAID PORT WHILE SAID SECOND PIPE CONNECTION IS OPEN AND THERE IS DIFFERENTIAL IN PRESSURE BETWEEN THE SOURCE AND OUTLET SIDES OF SAID FITTING, AND SAID RESILIENT MEANSK BEING ADAPTED TO URGE SAID VALVE TO THE OPEN CONDITION OF THE PORT IN RESPONSE TO CLOSING OF SAID SECOND PIPE CONNECTION AND EQUALIZATION IN PRESSURE AT THE SOURCE AND OUTLET SIDES OF SAID PORT. 